The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for coastal Essex County, Cape Cod and east coastal Plymouth County from Saturday afternoon through late Saturday night. Boston was not included in the blizzard warning area.

"This storm will likely be significant in Cape Ann and southeastern Massachusetts, including the Cape, and has the potential to cause blizzard conditions, power outages, beach erosion and pockets of minor coastal flooding," the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency said.

The day will start off cloudy, but snow will move in Saturday afternoon and last through Sunday morning.

A winter storm warning was issued for eastern and central Massachusetts with the forecast of 6 inches or more of snow. Pockets of the south shore could see 8 to 12 inches.

The Cape could see 4 to 6 inches of snow, as could areas between Routes 128 and 495. Worcester was likely to see 4 inches from the storm.

"There is a heavy snow potential along and southeast of the Boston to Providence corridor," the National Weather Service said in issuing the blizzard watch. "Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour are possible between 6 p.m. Saturday and 12 a.m. Sunday."

A blizzard warning means there is a potential for considerable falling and/or blowing snow with sustained winds or frequent gusts more than 35 mph and visibilities below 1/4 mile for at least three hours.

Areas away from the coast were expected to see lesser amounts, with snow totals dropping as distance increases from the coast.

Inside Route 128, there will be 4 to 6 inches of snow, and central Massachusetts may see 2 to 4 inches.

The is a "low probability of minor coastal flooding/erosion mainly at north-facing beaches from the South Shore to the Cape," MEMA said.